Need raw milk in Humboldt County (Altadena, Freedom: health insurance, buying, living)

[BaytoBreakers]

Originally Posted by mfeatherston

BaytoBreakers, eureka1, and Brenda-by-the-sea, you have the right to your opinions. However, it doesn't mean you are correct. I happen to have a serious digestive disorder and immune system disease, yet I've been drinking raw milk for the 8 years since I was diagnosed (I did not drink milk before), and it has proven to be one of the few nutrient-dense food sources that I can digest. If I drink pasteurized milk, I have serious digestive problems and joint pain intensely worse; yet raw milk has no adverse effects. But even so, why should anyone's opinion outweigh another's, or be forced on another? What harm is there to you if I choose to drink (and thrive on) raw milk? I don't care if you choose to drink pasteurized milk. I wish for all beings to live in complete freedom, including freedom from others' opinions, however well-intentioned.

Thanks Bellalunatic for the links. I still am in need of a raw milk source, since as I said above, I rely on it pretty heavily. Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You're right. If it's improving the quality of life with your condition you should continue drinking raw milk as long as you do so knowing the small but serious risk. Whether it's placebo effect or a benefit that just hasn't been studied - I don't know - but if it makes you feel better I can't argue with that.

[crunchymama]

So we got here (Humboldt county) in December and I need local raw milk for my family of 9. 5 kids who've had access to raw milk their whole lives. Shipping it from Fresno (Organic Pastures) is crazy expensive. Did you find a local source? I've asked around local stores, put up an ad at local feed store, and asked the Weston A Price group for help sourcing, but no luck thus far.

All you fearmongerers, people drank raw milk for thousands of years and most of them did not die from diseases related to raw milk. The CDC is LYING TO YOU. 3 countries with the highest longevity rates- Switzerland, France, Japan- raw milk is legal in all 3 countries. Yes sick cows happen and sick people can happen, this also happens with pasteurized milk.

And there should be no reason ever to keep people from making their own choices about what food to eat. Not everyone has room or time for a cow or a goat (RAW goats milk, also the best in terms of health and taste.) Laws that ban the sale of raw milk are unconstitutional (preventing me from pursuing the happiness that is milk that tastes like flowers and grass, the milkiest milk you ever tasted! and don't get me started about the cream! the milk our founders drank!) and unjust. Raw milk is a living food, full of the enzymes your body needs to digest the milk, the proteins completely undamaged, and ready to clabber or make cheese, it doesn't even go bad when it sours! It's worth what I'm paying but I'd rather buy it local

[DCMann2]

Since this thread is about 3 years old I'm sure the OP is long gone. As for raw milk itself, if you want to drink it, go for it, just make sure you have insurance in case something goes afoul. Personally I think raw milk is disgusting taste-wise but it doesn't affect me when other people drink it so I don't care.

[TrueTimbers]

Major supporter of raw milk here...

Folks you have been brainwashed by big ag, so they can milk sick cows and have the milk have a long self life... Why... Profit of course...

Louis Pasteur was wrong.... Antoine Bechamp had it right...!

Raw milk yogurt... Hmmmm

No worries about bad bugs then..

[YellowHorse]

My five siblings and I were raised on raw goat milk (cow milk is what tastes funny to me), I've raised my five kids (human kids ) on it as well. Never have I, my siblings, or my children been sick on raw milk, but have had digestive upset, health issues and, once, contaminated pasteurized milk that we got sick off of (during times when I did not have access to raw milk).

The best and least expensive way to get raw milk is to have your own goats. There are mini breeds, my favorite is the Nigerian Dwarf, that can fit in almost any backyard, but you want to first make sure your zoning regulations allow it (it is amazing how many areas do allow a couple pet goats).

If you can't, or don't want to have goats in your backyard, the next least expensive way is you can often find a local farmer who will let you buy a share (or buy outright if you need that much milk) a goat and for a monthly boarding/service fee, provide the milk to you.

Claravale Farm, the source I currently buy from (I can't keep goats here and all the closest "local" farmers are too far away ) distributes throughout California and might have a store near you. They produce raw Jersey cow milk, the breed of cows people that are sensitive to cow milk have the least problems with (they also provide raw goat milk, which opposed to the red lid on their cow milk, has the green lid and a green, stick on, "Pure Goat Milk" label). California store list

Organic Pastures also distributes raw milk. Their herd consists mostly of Holsteins, but if you don't have digestive issues on them (like me and my kids do), you can find a store through the store locator on their web site, Organic Pastures, just type in your zip on the right hand side of the page to see if they have a source near you.

Hope, that helps you find your raw milk

[freepelican]

I have done a tremendous amount of research on the raw milk vs pasteurized milk issue, and I'm a scientist and know how to dig deep in the literature and elsewhere, and I know how to evaluate what I read from a scientific perspective, and I completely concur with TrueTimbers's post above. Pasteurization of milk is done for one reason: MONEY! Plain and simple. Moreover, switching to raw milk has improved the health of many, especially for those who have autoimmune related issues, including but not limited to, joint issues, allergies, and type 2 diabetes. The FDA garbage (it is so off base I'm not even going to try to be neutral) floating around is almost entirely based on research funded by BIG AD. When you read these research studies, it is imperative you consider who is ultimately funding the research. Realize too that most university research done is this area is funded by MASSIVE grants from BIG AG, in some cases where the survival of whole academic departments depend on this funding! Further, considering the fact that U.S. governmental agencies allow gmo crops/ingredients to enter the marketplace with no testing outside the biotech funded researched, I'd say "consider the source" when anyone points to an FDA report on raw milk. Is this a source you can truly trust? For me personally, not at all, especially when ex-Monsanto lobbyists, lawyers, and executives are siting in key positions within these departments calling the shots.

I do have some questions considering local sources of raw milk since it would be an incredibly long trip to go to one of the bordering counties to buy it. I've heard that you can get raw milk at a casino store in Blue Lake, a work-around the Humboldt County's ban since it is being sold by an indian nation (sorry, I don't live there yet and I don't know which one). I'd like to know if this is still true and what's the source of this raw milk? Also, why doesn't the Co-Op and/or Eureka Natural Foods let the same Indian nation set up a little store inside their store for the sale of this same raw milk (and possibly other products as well)? Has this idea ever been discussed? Don't see how it would be any different than Ramona's having a store inside Gooseberries in Arcata (hope I got those names right)... when I was told I had to pay separately while visiting, I asked why and they said they were a separate store under the same roof.

Also, does anyone know of any other work-arounds in or near Eureka? Going to a farm every week would be a lot of traveling, and for various reasons, I will not be able to have my own goat/cow. I will gladly pay a more than fair price for quality raw milk on an almost weekly basis (depending on whether or not I have to travel to get it).

I'd also like to chime in with another poster above (sorry forgot username) and say that I think that the CHOICE of drinking raw milk or not should never be taken away, i.e. even if you don't want to drink raw milk, or the commissioners don't want to drink raw milk, why would they want to take that choice away from an individual and/or a Mother/Dad wanting to raise their kids a certain way?

[California831]

Anyone have experience with raw milk in Monterey County? They started selling it here at the Wharf Marketplace and I want to try, I just dont know anyone who has tried.

[freepelican]

Originally Posted by California831

Anyone have experience with raw milk in Monterey County? They started selling it here at the Wharf Marketplace and I want to try, I just dont know anyone who has tried.

One of the advantages of drinking raw milk is it that usually comes from a smaller supplier and you can go out and visit the dairy first-hand, a fun thing to do. Dairies that produce raw milk are usually very proud of their farm/facilities.. they tend to be the cleanest and nicest dairies around. They tend to know each animal by name and their lineage and treat them well and feed them well. I like to see truly happy cows eating in pastures of green organic grass (or if not organic, organic-like but not certified organic) and not pushed into over-production.... there are raw milk dairies that aren't as idyllic and the cows don't eat as much fresh grass btw so do choose wisely. The dairy that supplies the milk I buy now actually hosts special events a couple of times a year that are a blast to attend.

[TheDragonslayer]

Originally Posted by volvomann

Finding Raw milk is a bit difficult in Humboldt County as the "Deputy Branch Director Ann Lindsay, MD, Health Officer" is so opposed to it and has convinced the County Board of Supervisor's to ban it . The typical way to acquire it is to ask around and find someone with a milk goat. So it's time consuming but achievable to get that contact/provider. Usually the goats dry up during the winter.
Goat milk is quite rich and in my opinion can be very wholesome.
I've had no luck with the local dairymen as they are large scale and have much too loose.
-=Greg=-

I am Ann Lindsay's gardener up here and she is no longer the health officer. She moved down south to the Bay Area for five years

[skelaki]

I can remember when you could buy raw milk everywhere in CA. Alta Dena Dairy had it and it was safe because the dairy, the cows, etc. were regularly inspected and tested (the milk as well) to make sure it was safe.

Paturizing, although very beneficial,kills good as well as bad bacteria. That may be the reason the OP does better on raw.